Kamala Harris narrows down VP shortlist as two candidates emerge as frontrunners

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly have emerged as frontrunners for presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’ choice of vice president.

Both men are from key battleground states in the2024 presidential race and have a history of defeating candidates endorsed by Donald Trump at the ballot box.

A source close to the campaign – newly rebranded as Harris For President – told ABC News that the vetting of potential running mates had begun. Other candidates being considered as well as Shapiro and Kelly are Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.

However, the process is unlikely to be finalized by August 7, when the virtual roll call is scheduled to come to an end, a source familiar with the process told the outlet.

Some may see Shapiro as a good candidate for the ticket, as a fellow state attorney general. The 51-year-old is highly popular as the governor of Pennsylvania and enjoys the support of plenty of Republicans as well as Democrats.

In 2022, he beat the ultra-MAGA Doug Mastriano, whom Trump had endorsed. He has received high marks for his handling of multiple crises, including the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which borders Pennsylvania, and, more recently, the attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in the town of Butler.

As the state attorney general, Shapiro focused heavily on combating crime in Pennsylvania, which has at times rankled progressives in the way Harris’ record as a prosecutor has. In addition, when Trump sued Pennsylvania to challenge the 2020 election results, Shapiro beat him back in lawsuits.

US Senator Kelly is a 60-year-old former astronaut and Navy combat pilot. He won his seat in 2022, roundly defeating Republican challenger